The 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) for 2026 was held on Saturday at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, celebrating outstanding talent and productions across African film, television, and digital storytelling. Organised by MultiChoice through its Africa Magic platform, the annual ceremony honoured actors, filmmakers, directors, writers, and content creators for their remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry.

One of the night's biggest triumphs belonged to My Father’s Shadow, which garnered multiple prestigious awards. The film clinched Best Movie, and its director, Akinola Davies Jr., secured the Best Director category, outperforming notable contenders such as Tunde Kelani and Daniel Etim-Effiong. Additionally, My Father’s Shadow was recognised for Best Score/Music, Best Cinematography by Jermaine Edwards, and Best Sound Design by Pius Fatoke and CJ Mirra, showcasing its comprehensive excellence.

In the acting categories, Uzor Arukwe was awarded Best Lead Actor for his compelling role in Colours of Fire. Actress Linda Ejiofor achieved a significant double win, taking home Best Lead Actress for her performance in The Serpent’s Gift and Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Herd. Bucci Franklin was honoured with the Best Supporting Actor award for his work in To Kill A Monkey. Daniel Anyiam also secured the Best Editing award for To Kill A Monkey.

Special recognition awards were a highlight of the evening. Uche Montana received the prestigious Trailblazer Award, acknowledging her rising impact and influence within the industry. The coveted Industry Merit Award was jointly bestowed upon veteran Nigerian movie stars Kanayo O. Kanayo and Sola Sobowale. This honour celebrated their decades-long contributions to the Nigerian movie industry and their enduring impact as two of Nollywood’s most respected screen icons. Receiving her award, Sola Sobowale expressed gratitude to the organisers, her fans, and especially her children for their support throughout her career. Kanayo O. Kanayo used his acceptance speech to advocate against xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Television and digital productions also received significant accolades. Nigerian Idol Season 10 was a double winner, securing both Best Unscripted M-Net Original and Best Unscripted Series. The Low Priest earned the title of Best Scripted M-Net Original, while Inimba was recognised as Best Scripted Series and Best Indigenous M-Net Original. For digital content creation, Kanaga and Sophia Chisom were jointly awarded Best Digital Content Creator. The documentary category saw Beyond Olympic Glory claim the top prize, and Hussainin was named Best Short Film.

The awards also celebrated African indigenous language productions across various regions. Lisabi: A Legend Is Born won Best Indigenous Language Film (West Africa). In other regions, Addis Fikir took Best Indigenous Language Film (East Africa), Artal Alhanin: Our Memories won Best Indigenous Language Film (North Africa), Tlhaho Ya Mosadi was the victor for Best Indigenous Language Film (South Africa), and Mabanda received Best Indigenous Language Film (Central Africa).

The AMVCA continues to stand as one of Africa’s most prestigious entertainment awards, bringing together stars and creatives from across the continent for a grand celebration of storytelling, filmmaking, and cultural expression.